Less than a week after moving out a defenseman, the New York Rangers have brought one in. On Saturday, they claimed 23-year-old Vincent Iorio off waivers from the San Jose Sharks, adding a big-bodied, right-shot blueliner to their evolving blue line rotation. This comes just five days after they dealt Carson Soucy to the Islanders in exchange for a third-round pick in this year’s NHL Draft.
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Iorio brings size and mobility to a Rangers team that’s clearly focused on building out its defensive depth - especially on the right side. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t necessarily jump off the stat sheet, but scouts like what he brings: poised puck movement, a smooth transition game, and the raw tools to be a steady third-pairing presence.
Originally a second-round pick by the Washington Capitals in 2021 (No. 55 overall), Iorio is still very much in the developmental phase of his NHL career. He spent the bulk of the last two seasons with the Capitals' AHL affiliate in Hershey, where he played a key role in their back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024. That kind of postseason experience - even at the AHL level - is valuable, especially for a Rangers squad with playoff aspirations and a need for depth that can step in when the games start to matter most.
In his time with the Sharks this season, Iorio suited up for 21 games, recording three assists, 12 penalty minutes, and averaging 16:30 of ice time per night. He also spent a brief conditioning stint with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, where he tallied seven assists in just six games - a reminder that he can move the puck and contribute offensively when given the opportunity.
Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky spoke recently about Iorio’s upside, noting the challenge of finding quality right-shot defensemen and pointing to the young blueliner’s physical tools and hockey IQ as reasons to be optimistic. “We like the toolset.
We like the makeup of the player,” Warsofsky said. And for a San Jose team with several veteran defensemen on expiring contracts, Iorio looked like a logical part of their future.
But the waiver wire had other plans.
Now, he lands in New York - a team that’s clearly threading the needle between contending now and building for the future. Iorio fits that mold.
He’s young, has pro experience, and doesn’t require top-pair minutes to be effective. Right now, he projects as a depth piece - a bottom-pair option or extra defenseman - but his presence also gives the Rangers some flexibility, especially if they explore trade options involving Braden Schneider.
And with Adam Fox still working his way back from a lower-body injury, head coach Mike Sullivan will have some decisions to make. Once Fox returns, the Rangers will be juggling a group that includes Iorio, Scott Morrow, and Urho Vaakanainen - all vying for ice time and a spot in the long-term picture.
To make room for Iorio on the roster, the Rangers reassigned forward Brett Berard to AHL Hartford on Saturday. That move leaves Connor Mackey as the extra defenseman for Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Iorio not yet available to suit up.
After the Penguins, the Rangers have just one more game - a home tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes - before the NHL pauses for the Olympic break. It’s a short window, but it could be enough for Iorio to make an impression. Whether he’s a long-term piece or a short-term depth solution remains to be seen, but for now, the Rangers have added another intriguing young defender to a group that’s getting younger, faster, and more versatile by the week.